Tickets for Dubai Rugby Sevens contest go on sale

Tickets for December's tournament, one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the sporting calendar, go on sale today.

DUBAI // Tickets for December's Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament, one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the sporting calendar, go on sale today. The tournament, long regarded as an expatriate institution, attracted 130,000 visitors last year and was the first to be staged in the purpose-built Sevens stadium. Although the event is still three months away, organisers have advised fans to purchase tickets early to ensure they get genuine tickets at face value. Because of the high demand, many were illegally resold at inflated prices in the run-up to the event last year.

Tickets will be available from The Sevens ground on the Dubai-Al Ain Road, Emirates Airline headquarters, the Dnata Travel Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road and Costa coffee shops and MMI outlets across the city. They can also be purchased online through www.dubairugby7s.com. The Arabian Gulf side, made up of amateurs from across the region, will provide local interest as they look to upset the champions South Africa and the leading challengers England, New Zealand and Fiji.

As well as the 16 teams participating in the International Rugby Board (IRB) series, the event will see more than 150 local sides, featuring more than 2,000 amateur players. There will be youth, women's and veterans' matches. The South Africa coach Paul Treu spoke highly of the competition. "You're not going to get a better atmosphere than at The Sevens," he said. "The Dubai tournament has always been phenomenal, and I'm sure it will be again this year.

"We couldn't ask for a better place to start the Sevens World Series." The event will take place on December 3-5 at The Sevens stadium on the Dubai-Al Ain road. [e-mail]